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Updated: July 16, 2025
And that he might not be entirely defenceless he carried Peter Chatfield's oaken staff with him that would certainly serve to crack any ordinary skull, if need arose for measure of defence. The road which Copplestone followed out of the village soon turned off into the heart of the moorlands that lay, rising and falling in irregular undulations, between the sea and the hills.
And so utterly extraordinary was his behaviour and attitude that Audrey suddenly and almost involuntarily stepped forward and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Mr. Chatfield!" she exclaimed. "What 's the matter? Are you ill?" The emphasis which she gave to the last word roused some quality of Chatfield's subtle intellect.
The fact is, I'm so upset about this Oliver affair that I'm going to have a thorough search and examination of the Keep and the ruins, and, of course, we can't allow any one inside the grounds while it's going on. You should have kept to Chatfield's orders "
"Whose notion was it that he might be found here?" asked Copplestone. "Chatfield's," replied the Squire. "Chatfield's. He and I were up at the top there, and he suddenly suggested that Oliver might have fallen from the parapet and be lying embedded in that mass of green stuff beneath. We didn't know then even Chatfield didn't know that there was this empty space beneath the green stuff.
Copplestone suddenly recognized that feminine instinct had solved a problem which masculine reason had so far left unsolved. "By gad!" he exclaimed softly. "Then, if that is so, this is merely another of Chatfield's games. You don't believe him?" "I would think myself within approachable distance of lunacy if I believed a word that Peter Chatfield said," she answered calmly.
No, sir! them boxes has been guarded careful ever since Chatfield placed 'em where he did. For Chatfield's never been back!" "Never back, eh?" said Copplestone, winking at the other two. "Never been back self nor spirit, substance nor shadow! since that night," replied Spurge. "Unless, indeed, he's been back since four o'clock this morning, when I left there.
"As I say, I'm wanted for poaching, and Chatfield's been watching to get his knife into me this long while. All the same, if more serious things drew his attention off, he might let it slide. What do you ask for, guv'nor?" "I wanted to know where you could be found in case you were required to give evidence about seeing Mr. Oliver," replied Copplestone. "That evidence may be wanted."
"He's a bad 'un but he's on our side now I'm convinced. It is a game he's playing, and a deep one, and I don't know what it is, but it's for our benefit Chatfield's simply transferred his interest and influence to us that's all. For his own purposes, of course. And" he suddenly paused, gazed seaward, and then jumped to his feet. "Chatfield!" he called quietly. "You needn't light any fire.
"On terms, Mr. Vickers," remarked Chatfield. "On terms, sir." "What terms?" asked Audrey. "To Mr. Chatfield's personal advantage, of course." Chatfield, who was still the most unconcerned of the group, seated himself on the rocks and looked at his audience. "I've said to Mr. Vickers here that if I help Miss Greyle to the estate, I ought to be rewarded handsome," he said.
As if he knew his way, Chatfield plodded heavily up the beach and was lost in the darkness, and the three left behind stood helplessly staring at each other. For a long time there was silence, broken only by the agent's heavy tread on the shingle at last Vickers spoke. "I think I can see through all this," he said. "Chatfield's cryptic utterances were somewhat suggestive.
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